by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796)
First when Maggy was my care
Language: Scottish (Scots)
Available translation(s): FRE
First when Maggy was my care, Heaven, I thought, was in her air; Now we're married, spier nae mair, Whistle o'er the lave o't. Meg was meek, and Meg was mild, Sweet and harmless as a child; Wiser men than me's beguile'd, Whistle o'er the lave o't. How we live, my Meg and me, How we love and how we 'gree I care na by how few may see, Whistle o'er the lave o't. Wha I wish were maggots' meat, Dish'd up in her winding-sheet; I could write, -- but Meg maun see't, Whistle o'er the lave o't.
About the headline (FAQ)
View text with all available footnotesGlossary
Spear = ask, enquire
Lave = rest, remainder
I care na by = I am indifferent
Maun = must
Authorship:
- by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), "First when Maggy was my care" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by (Franz) Joseph Haydn (1732 - 1809), "Whistle o'er the lave o't", Hob. XXXIa:76bis, JHW. XXXII/3 no. 231. [voice and piano] [text verified 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , title 1: "Sifflez sur ce qu'il en reste", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
This text was added to the website: 2009-07-15
Line count: 16
Word count: 97